AmeriCorps Resume Workshop

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Transcript of AmeriCorps Resume Workshop

It's important to show CONSISTENT work experience!20132009201020112012Tips:* In your cover letter, you need to address your skills! The first paragraph is your VIRTUAL HANDSHAKE. Do not say “I am applying for this position that I saw on this website.” Use that first paragraph to be impressive and attention grabbing. WHAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE!?

* Make sure your writing is good as this is their first impression of your writing skills

* Make your closing short and sweetCover letterGet their attention 5-11 (but usually only 6) seconds to impress someone with your resume.Use key words to use Your resume needs to be clean and error free and the top portion of it needs to grab their attention. Make sure they can actually read it•Font & spacing is important as a lot of employers will be reading your resume on their smart phones! Margins should be 0.8-1” and font size should be 11. Use a basic font like Times or Ariel.

TIP: For added room, keep this standard margin and font size, but change spacing between your lines to fit everything on one page.

•PDF format! Naming the PDF doc appropriately is also very important.Focus on what your potential employer is looking for...Your resume needs to match the job. For example, non-profits are looking for your commitment to service and how well you would fit in with their organization. Resume- Resume: One or two FULL pages. Never a page and a half. If you are still in school or right out of college, one page makes more sense.Gaps are a major red flag to employers. Therefore, include jobs that you worked that may have no relevance, but don’t expand on them. (i.e. put your waitressing job on there with the year(s) and location but don’t include any details unless it’s relevant to the job)Resume tipsEverything included in your resume needs to be relevant! So ask yourself these three questions for everything you put on there: 1. So what? 2. Who cares? 3. Why does it matter?Resume Building Skills: Chronological over functional...Caitlin Bueller 902 NE 42nd St. Apt #2 Seattle, WA 98105 Caitlin.Bueller@gmail.com; (609) 457-3011-Create a Master template resume on your computer with all of your experience. That way you can go to that and pull information from it based on each job you apply to. -Also create a general resume with your most important information/experience to have on hand for fast sending.*Employers are most interested in seeing RESULTS. Include specific quantifiables if you can.Hybrid resumes are a good way to cluster similar work experiences and still keep your resume somewhat chronological (a good space saver, too!)INTERNSHIPS-The Pohly Company (January-May 2011)Company info, job description/responsibilities-Boston Magazine (May-September 2011)Company info, job description/responsibilitiesEXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:Top of your resume should include your name, current address, ONE professional sounding email address, your best phone number, and possibly your linkedin profile if it is professional and up to date.Where should I list my education information?If the name of your college is notable or the degree you received is pertinent to the job you’re applying for and will grab attention, put your education at the top of your resume. If not, it can be at the bottom if there is more relevant experience or information that should be closer to the top so it is seen first.*If your GPA is a 3.5 or above, include it. Add any honors you received. Include coursework, special projects, and activities if it adds to your qualities as a candidate.What about everything else?Include other “stuff” only if it is relevant. (i.e. volunteer work, leadership experience, language and technology skills, travel, training and certifications, research work)*To save space, a hybrid version of this would be most helpful.EXAMPLE:OTHERPublications:Leadership:Volunteer: Work:Languages:Computer:Translating your AmeriCorps service on your resume...Use CAR method- challenge IN context, action, resultUse these tips to develop C-A-R success stories and bring your resume to life:1 – Look at Your Challenges in Context.2 – Describe Actions Taken to Resolve These Issues.3 – Quantify Your Results.*Your cover letter should never be more than one pageTips on Salary Request:If they ask you to include in your application a desired salary request, do not name a number! Say “per your salary request, I am very negotiable and looking forward to discussing this with you.” Even in the interview, NEVER NAME A NUMBER! Turn it on them— ask them what they have budgeted for the position. Avoid naming a specific number until you have more information and know the full scope of work.

If they insist, you can get ideas of what your salary should be from glassdoor.com or guidestar.org. Then in negotiations you can say, “Even though I was only making this at my last job, a comparable person in this position makes this…”AmeriCorps Alums is a really good resource. Their website has a career center with life after AmeriCorps information, webinars, career newsletters, jobs looking SPECIFICALLY for AmeriCorps alumni, their Linkedin group information, and other helpful info!

All you have to do is register, it’s FREE!

AmericorpsAlums.org (Facebook: foramericorpsalums)Cover LetterA public sector job will be looking at your SPECIFIC employment history and will focus on your responsibilities and results so you need to be highly detailed on that resume.

A private sector job will be looking for big names, high scores, and your achievements. You want that resume to be short and strong and you want to have a good understanding of their organization and the job requirements.Put title and organization before AmeriCorps. *Example: Next Steps AmeriCorps: Boys and Girls Club

Volunteer Liaison,

You can’t include everything from every spike. Don’t be project specific. Highlight your most impactful experiences and the most important things for the job you’re applying for in your resume (specifics & leadership!). You can expand further on your experiences during an interview. You can highlight 2 or 3 transferable skills with bulleted details. * Example: -Developed - Managed…. - Led….. -Organized….. -Mentored.....

Highlight team skills! (i.e. leadership development, conflict resolution, etc.)* See if there are any AmeriCorps alumni working with the company and contact them directly! That may be a good way to build a relationship and get your resume to the top of the pile. (Read staff bios on the organization’s website and/or check staff profiles on Linkedin)Visit your campus career center or writing center for additional resources!Short & simply:

The Next Steps AmeriCorps Program engages college students in community service, mentoring, supportive workshops, and leadership development.

Corps Members do 300 hours of community service in with a non-profit organization in addition to mentoring first year freshmen throughout the course of one year.

upon completion of the 300 hours Will earn an Education Award of $1195 for school Elevator speech describing the Next Steps AmeriCorps program: